SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1,
TO 2007 SENATE BILL 523
March 5, 2008 - Offered by Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
SB523-SSA1,1,12 1An Act to repeal 196.98, 281.35 (2) (a), 281.35 (3), 281.35 (8) and 281.35 (10) (a)
24.; to renumber 281.35 (2) (b) and 283.83; to renumber and amend 281.35
3(11) (f); to amend 196.49 (2), 281.34 (5) (e) 1., 281.35 (1) (a), 281.35 (1) (b) 2.,
4281.35 (4) (b) (intro.), 281.35 (5) (a) 13., 281.35 (5) (b), 281.35 (6) (a) (intro.),
5281.35 (9) (a), 281.35 (11) (intro.), 281.35 (12) (c), 281.41 (1) (c), 281.94 (1),
6281.95 and 281.98 (1); and to create 14.95, 30.208 (3m), 281.34 (5) (dm),
7281.343, 281.344, 281.346, 281.348, 281.35 (1) (bm), 281.35 (4) (a) 4., 281.35 (6)
8(am), 281.35 (9) (d), 281.41 (4), 283.41 (3) and 283.83 (2) of the statutes;
9relating to: the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources
10Compact, withdrawals of water from the Great Lakes Basin, water withdrawal
11and use, water supply planning, water conservation, granting rule-making
12authority, and providing a penalty.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB523-SSA1, s. 1
1Section 1. 14.95 of the statutes is created to read:
SB523-SSA1,2,6 214.95 Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources
3Council.
(1) There is created a Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water
4Resources Council as specified in s. 281.343 (2) (a). The governor may take such
5actions as are necessary for the initial organization and operation of the Great
6Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council.
SB523-SSA1,2,15 7(2) The governor shall serve as this state's representative on the Great
8Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council. In discharging his or
9her responsibilities under s. 281.343 (2) and (3), the governor may designate the
10secretary of natural resources as the governor's alternate to attend all meetings of
11the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council and to vote at
12all meetings of the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council
13in the absence of the governor. Any designee other than the secretary of natural
14resources shall be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the
15senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor.
SB523-SSA1,2,21 16(3) In discharging his or her responsibilities under s. 281.343 (2) and (3), the
17governor may appoint an advisor to attend all meetings of the Great Lakes—St.
18Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council and its committees. The governor's
19advisor may not vote at meetings of the council. If the governor appoints an advisor,
20the governor shall appoint an individual with knowledge of and experience with
21Great Lakes water management issues.
SB523-SSA1,2,25 22(3m) (a) In this subsection, "standard of review and decision" means the
23exception standard under s. 281.343 (4n) (d), the decision-making standard under
24s. 281.343 (4r), and reviews under s. 281.343 (4) to (4z) that do not deal solely with
25the internal management of the council.
SB523-SSA1,3,25
1(b) Before voting on a rule or regulation under s. 281.343 (3) (c) 1. for the
2implementation or enforcement of regional review under s. 281.343 (4h), the
3exception standard under s. 281.343 (4n) (d), or the decision-making standard under
4s. 281.343 (4r), other than a rule or regulation that deals solely with the internal
5management of the council or its property, or on a regulation under s. 281.343 (3) (a)
62. that amends the standard of review and decision, the governor or his or her
7alternate shall submit the proposed rule or regulation to the joint committee on
8legislative organization. The governor or his or her alternate may not vote on the rule
9or regulation before the 30th day after the date of submission. If the cochairpersons
10of the committee do not notify the governor or his or her alternate within 30 days
11after the date of the submission that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the
12purpose of reviewing the proposed rule or regulation, the governor or his or her
13alternate may vote on the proposed rule or regulation. If, within 30 days after the
14date of the submission by the governor or his or her alternate, the cochairpersons of
15the committee notify the governor or his or her alternate that the committee has
16scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed rule or regulation, the
17governor or his or her alternate may not vote on the proposed rule or regulation
18before the 60th day after the date of submission. If, within 60 days after the date of
19submission, the committee does not object to the rule or regulation, the governor or
20his or her alternate may vote on the proposed rule or regulation. If, within 30 days
21after the date of submission, the cochairpersons notify the governor or his or her
22alternate that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing
23the proposed rule or regulation and, within 60 days after the date of submission, the
24committee objects to the proposed rule or regulation, the governor or his or her
25alternate may not vote on the proposed rule or regulation.
SB523-SSA1, s. 4
1Section 4. 30.208 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB523-SSA1,4,82 30.208 (3m) Notice to downstream communities. When the department
3receives an application for an individual permit under s. 30.12 for a structure
4through which water transferred from the Great Lakes basin would be returned to
5the source watershed through a stream tributary to one of the Great Lakes, the
6department shall provide notice of the application to the governing body of each city,
7village, and town through which the stream flows or that is adjacent to the stream
8downstream from the point at which the water would enter the stream.
SB523-SSA1, s. 5 9Section 5. 196.49 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB523-SSA1,4,2510 196.49 (2) No public utility may begin the construction, installation or
11operation of any new plant, equipment, property or facility, nor the construction or
12installation of any extension, improvement or addition to its existing plant,
13equipment, property, apparatus or facilities unless the public utility has complied
14with any applicable rule or order of the commission and with s. 281.35, if applicable.
15If a cooperative association has been incorporated under ch. 185 for the production,
16transmission, delivery or furnishing of light or power and has filed with the
17commission a map of the territory to be served by the association and a statement
18showing that a majority of the prospective consumers in the area are included in the
19project, no public utility may begin any such construction, installation or operation
20within the territory until after the expiration of 6 months from the date of filing the
21map and notice. If the cooperative association has entered into a loan agreement
22with any federal agency for the financing of its proposed system and has given
23written notice of the agreement to the commission, no public utility may begin any
24construction, installation or operation within the territory until 12 months after the
25date of the loan agreement.
SB523-SSA1, s. 6
1Section 6. 196.98 of the statutes is repealed.
SB523-SSA1, s. 7 2Section 7. 281.34 (5) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB523-SSA1,5,63 281.34 (5) (dm) Water supply service area plan. If a proposed high capacity well
4is covered by an approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348, the
5department may not approve the high capacity well unless it is consistent with that
6plan.
SB523-SSA1, s. 8 7Section 8. 281.34 (5) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB523-SSA1,5,108 281.34 (5) (e) 1. If s. 281.35 (4) applies to a proposed high capacity well, the
9department shall include in the approval conditions that ensure that the high
10capacity well complies with s. 281.35 (4) to (6).
SB523-SSA1, s. 9 11Section 9. 281.343 of the statutes is created to read:
SB523-SSA1,5,15 12281.343 Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources
13Compact.
(1) Ratification. The Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water
14Resources Compact, contained in subs. (1e) to (9), is ratified and approved, as
15implemented and interpreted in ss. 14.95, 281.346, and 281.348.
SB523-SSA1,5,16 16(1e) Definitions. In this section, except as otherwise required by the context:
SB523-SSA1,5,2117 (a) "Adaptive management" means a water resources management system that
18provides a systematic process for evaluation, monitoring, and learning from the
19outcomes of operational programs and adjustment of policies, plans, and programs
20based on experience and the evolution of scientific knowledge concerning water
21resources and water dependent natural resources.
SB523-SSA1,5,2322 (am) "Agreement" means the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin
23Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.
SB523-SSA1,6,3
1(b) "Applicant" means a person who is required to submit a proposal that is
2subject to management and regulation under this compact. "Application" has a
3corresponding meaning.
SB523-SSA1,6,64 (c) "Basin" or "Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin" means the watershed
5of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River upstream from Trois-Rivieres,
6Quebec within the jurisdiction of the parties.
SB523-SSA1,6,97 (cm) "Basin ecosystem" or "Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin ecosystem"
8means the interacting components of air, land, water, and living organisms,
9including humankind, within the basin.
SB523-SSA1,6,1210 (d) "Community within a straddling county" means any incorporated city,
11town, or the equivalent thereof, that is located outside the basin but wholly within
12a county that lies partly within the basin and that is not a straddling community.
SB523-SSA1,6,1313 (dm) "Compact" means this compact.
SB523-SSA1,6,1614 (e) "Consumptive use" means that portion of the water withdrawn or withheld
15from the basin that is lost or otherwise not returned to the basin due to evaporation,
16incorporation into products, or other processes.
SB523-SSA1,6,1817 (em) "Council" means the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water
18Resources Council, created by this compact.
SB523-SSA1,6,2019 (f) "Council review" means the collective review by the council members as
20described in subs. (4) to (4z).
SB523-SSA1,6,2321 (fm) "County" means the largest territorial division for local government in a
22state. The county boundaries shall be defined as those boundaries that exist as of
23December 13, 2005.
SB523-SSA1,7,524 (g) "Cumulative impacts" means the impact on the basin ecosystem that results
25from incremental effects of all aspects of a withdrawal, diversion, or consumptive use

1in addition to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future withdrawals,
2diversions, and consumptive uses regardless of who undertakes the other
3withdrawals, diversions, and consumptive uses. Cumulative impacts can result
4from individually minor but collectively significant withdrawals, diversions, and
5consumptive uses taking place over a period of time.
SB523-SSA1,7,86 (gm) "Decision-making standard" means the decision-making standard
7established by sub. (4r) for proposals subject to management and regulation in sub.
8(4p).
SB523-SSA1,7,159 (h) "Diversion" means a transfer of water from the basin into another
10watershed, or from the watershed of one of the Great Lakes into that of another by
11any means of transfer, including but not limited to a pipeline, canal, tunnel,
12aqueduct, channel, modification of the direction of a water course, a tanker ship,
13tanker truck, or rail tanker but does not apply to water that is used in the basin or
14a Great Lake watershed to manufacture or produce a product that is then transferred
15out of the basin or watershed. "Divert" has a corresponding meaning.
SB523-SSA1,7,2516 (i) "Environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation
17measures" mean those measures, methods, technologies, or practices for efficient
18water use and for reduction of water loss and waste or for reducing a withdrawal,
19consumptive use, or diversion that are environmentally sound, reflect best practices
20applicable to the water use sector, are technically feasible and available, are
21economically feasible and cost-effective based on an analysis that considers direct
22and avoided economic and environmental costs, and consider the particular facilities
23and processes involved, taking into account the environmental impact, age of
24equipment and facilities involved, the processes employed, energy impacts, and
25other appropriate factors.
SB523-SSA1,8,2
1(im) "Exception" means a transfer of water that is excepted under sub. (4n)
2from the prohibition against diversions in sub. (4m).
SB523-SSA1,8,43 (j) "Exception standard" means the standard for exceptions established in sub.
4(4n) (d).
SB523-SSA1,8,65 (jm) "Intrabasin transfer" means the transfer of water from the watershed of
6one of the Great Lakes into the watershed of another Great Lake.
SB523-SSA1,8,87 (k) "Measures" means any legislation, law, regulation, directive, requirement,
8guideline, program, policy, administrative practice, or other procedure.
SB523-SSA1,8,119 (km) "New or increased diversion" means a new diversion, an increase in an
10existing diversion, or the alteration of an existing withdrawal so that it becomes a
11diversion.
SB523-SSA1,8,1412 (L) "New or increased withdrawal or consumptive use" means a new
13withdrawal or consumptive use or an increase in an existing withdrawal or
14consumptive use.
SB523-SSA1,8,1615 (Lm) "Originating party" means the party within whose jurisdiction an
16application or registration is made or required.
SB523-SSA1,8,1717 (n) "Party" means a state that is a party to this compact.
SB523-SSA1,8,2118 (nm) "Person" means a human being or a legal person, including a government
19or a nongovernmental organization, including any scientific, professional, business,
20nonprofit, or public interest organization or association that is neither affiliated
21with, nor under the direction of a government.
SB523-SSA1,8,2422 (o) 1. "Product" means something produced in the basin by human or
23mechanical effort or through agricultural processes and used in manufacturing,
24commercial, or other processes or intended for intermediate or end use consumers.
SB523-SSA1,9,2
12. Water used as part of the packaging of a product shall be considered to be
2part of the product.
SB523-SSA1,9,53 3. Other than water used as part of the packaging of a product, water that is
4used primarily to transport materials in or out of the basin is not a product or part
5of a product.
SB523-SSA1,9,76 4. Except as provided in subd. 2., water that is transferred as part of a public
7or private supply is not a product or part of a product.
SB523-SSA1,9,98 5. Water in its natural state such as in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, aquifers, or
9water basins is not a product.
SB523-SSA1,9,1110 (om) "Proposal" means a withdrawal, diversion, or consumptive use of water
11that is subject to this compact.
SB523-SSA1,9,1212 (p) "Province" means Ontario or Quebec.
SB523-SSA1,9,1813 (pm) "Public water supply purposes" means water distributed to the public
14through a physically connected system of treatment, storage, and distribution
15facilities serving a group of largely residential customers that may also serve
16industrial, commercial, and other institutional operators. Water withdrawn directly
17from the basin and not through such a system shall not be considered to be used for
18public water supply purposes.
SB523-SSA1,9,2019 (q) "Regional body" means the members of the council and the premiers of
20Ontario and Quebec or their designee as established by the agreement.
SB523-SSA1,9,2221 (qm) "Regional review" means the collective review by the regional body as
22described in sub. (4h).
SB523-SSA1,9,2523 (r) "Source watershed" means the watershed from which a withdrawal
24originates. If water is withdrawn directly from a Great Lake or from the St.
25Lawrence River, then the source watershed shall be considered to be the watershed

1of that Great Lake or the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, respectively. If water
2is withdrawn from the watershed of a stream that is a direct tributary to a Great
3Lake or a direct tributary to the St. Lawrence River, then the source watershed shall
4be considered to be the watershed of that Great Lake or the watershed of the St.
5Lawrence River, respectively, with a preference to the direct tributary stream
6watershed from which it was withdrawn.
SB523-SSA1,10,87 (rm) "Standard of review and decision" means the exception standard,
8decision-making standard, and reviews as outlined in subs. (4) to (4z).
SB523-SSA1,10,109 (s) "State" means one of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
10New York, Ohio, or Wisconsin or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SB523-SSA1,10,1411 (t) "Straddling community" means any incorporated city, town, or the
12equivalent thereof, wholly within any county that lies partly or completely within the
13basin, whose corporate boundary existing as of the effective date of this compact is
14partly within the basin or partly within 2 Great Lakes watersheds.
SB523-SSA1,10,1815 (u) "Technical review" means a detailed review conducted to determine
16whether or not a proposal that requires regional review under this compact meets
17the standard of review and decision following procedures and guidelines as set out
18in this compact.
SB523-SSA1,10,1919 (v) "Water" means groundwater or surface water contained within the basin.
SB523-SSA1,10,2120 (w) "Water dependent natural resources" means the interacting components of
21land, water, and living organisms affected by the waters of the basin.
SB523-SSA1,10,2422 (x) "Waters of the basin" or "basin water" means the Great Lakes and all
23streams, rivers, lakes, connecting channels, and other bodies of water, including
24tributary groundwater, within the basin.
SB523-SSA1,11,2
1(y) "Withdrawal" means the taking of water from surface water or
2groundwater. "Withdraw" has a corresponding meaning.
SB523-SSA1,11,4 3(1m) Findings and purposes. The legislative bodies of the respective parties
4hereby find and declare:
SB523-SSA1,11,55 (a) Findings:
SB523-SSA1,11,76 1. The waters of the basin are precious public natural resources shared and
7held in trust by the states;
SB523-SSA1,11,98 2. The waters of the basin are interconnected and part of a single hydrologic
9system;
SB523-SSA1,11,1610 3. The waters of the basin can concurrently serve multiple uses. Such multiple
11uses include municipal, public, industrial, commercial, agriculture, mining,
12navigation, energy development and production, recreation, the subsistence,
13economic, and cultural activities of native peoples, water quality maintenance, and
14the maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat and a balanced ecosystem. And, other
15purposes are encouraged, recognizing that such uses are interdependent and must
16be balanced;
SB523-SSA1,11,1917 4. Future diversions and consumptive uses of basin water resources have the
18potential to significantly impact the environment, economy, and welfare of the Great
19Lakes—St. Lawrence River region;
SB523-SSA1,11,2120 5. Continued sustainable, accessible, and adequate water supplies for the
21people and economy of the basin are of vital importance; and
SB523-SSA1,12,222 6. The parties have a shared duty to protect, conserve, restore, improve, and
23manage the renewable but finite waters of the basin for the use, benefit, and
24enjoyment of all their citizens, including generations yet to come. The most effective
25means of protecting, conserving, restoring, improving, and managing the basin

1waters is through the joint pursuit of unified and cooperative principles, policies, and
2programs mutually agreed upon, enacted, and adhered to by all parties.
SB523-SSA1,12,33 (b) Purposes:
SB523-SSA1,12,84 1. To act together to protect, conserve, restore, improve, and effectively manage
5the waters and water dependent natural resources of the basin under appropriate
6arrangements for intergovernmental cooperation and consultation because current
7lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing
8measures to protect the basin ecosystem;
SB523-SSA1,12,99 2. To remove causes of present and future controversies;
SB523-SSA1,12,1110 3. To provide for cooperative planning and action by the parties with respect
11to such water resources;
SB523-SSA1,12,1412 4. To facilitate consistent approaches to water management across the basin
13while retaining state management authority over water management decisions
14within the basin;
SB523-SSA1,12,1815 5. To facilitate the exchange of data, strengthen the scientific information base
16upon which decisions are made, and engage in consultation on the potential effects
17of proposed withdrawals and losses on the waters and water dependent natural
18resources of the basin;
SB523-SSA1,12,2019 6. To prevent significant adverse impacts of withdrawals and losses on the
20basin's ecosystems and watersheds;
SB523-SSA1,12,2121 7. To promote interstate and state-provincial comity; and
SB523-SSA1,12,2522 8. To promote an adaptive management approach to the conservation and
23management of basin water resources that recognizes, considers, and provides
24adjustments for the uncertainties in, and evolution of, scientific knowledge
25concerning the basin's waters and water dependent natural resources.
SB523-SSA1,13,3
1(1s) Science. (a) The parties commit to provide leadership for the development
2of a collaborative strategy with other regional partners to strengthen the scientific
3basis for sound water management decision making under this compact.
SB523-SSA1,13,54 (b) The strategy shall guide the collection and application of scientific
5information to support:
SB523-SSA1,13,86 1. An improved understanding of the individual and cumulative impacts of
7withdrawals from various locations and water sources on the basin ecosystem and
8to develop a mechanism by which impacts of withdrawals may be assessed;
SB523-SSA1,13,109 2. The periodic assessment of cumulative impacts of withdrawals, diversions,
10and consumptive uses on a Great Lake and St. Lawrence River watershed basis;
SB523-SSA1,13,1111 3. Improved scientific understanding of the waters of the basin;
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